Umpire slapped with suspension after "Sree provoked" remark

New Delhi, April 29: Umpire Amish Saheba was suspended for two IPL matches on Tuesday for talking to the media regarding the Harbhajan-Sreesanth slap row and has been asked to answer the showcause notice served to him by BCCI within 48 hours.

Umpire Sahiba was officiating the Mumbai v Mohali match during which Mumbai Indians stand-in skipper Harbhajan slapped paceman Sreesanth.

"The IPL governing council has withdrawn Amish Saheba`s appointment for two matches of IPL," a BCCI release said.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India has sought explanation from the umpire Amish Saheba about his statements appearing in Mumbai Mirror regarding the behaviour of Sreesanth in the match between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings at Mohali," the release said.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said that Amish Saheba should have informed the match referee about Sreesanth`s conduct instead of going to the press.

Earlier in the day, the on-field umpire Amish Saheba added to the controversy by claiming that even Sreesanth had provoked other players during the match.

He further told reporters that Sreesanth had commented on the other players in the opposition team and the senior umpire on the field, Aleem Dar had also been informed about the incident for which the fast bowler was warned on two occasions.

On Monday, Harbhajan Singh was banned from playing this season’s IPL matches for his unacceptable action of slapping S Sreesanth, a move that the match referee said was ‘unprovoked’ by the other party.